Chapter Seven
1174 Words
Chapter 7
Isabella walked into the bathroom slowly, her hands trembling as she dialed Rosalinda.
The cold tiles under her bare feet only heightened her anxiety. Her heart was pounding.
Rosalinda picked up immediately.
“What, what happened? Who were you talking about?”
Rosalinda’s voice was shaky, laced with panic.
“Isabella, I'm scared,” she whispered.
“She was shot dead! I do not think anyone else saw it happen, I heard some noise and I peeped through the window. I think the new girl…. She was trying to escape, but the guards caught her and there was a struggle between them. He pulled the trigger immediately.”
Isabella's pulse quickened.
“Were you able to record it? Even a picture? Anything?” Isabella asked curiously.
“Isabella,” Rosalinda exhaled, that was the last thing on my mind at that moment. I didn't expect him to kill her. Afterward, he made a brief call, then drove out with two other men. They carried her body out with them.”
As Rosalinda spoke, the picture of the event Isabella and others went for the previous day flashed in her mind. She also wished Rosalinda had captured something, anything, but Isabella wouldn't blame her.
Isabella walked back to the bed, and sat in silence, sleep was impossible. Her mind was a storm of fear and helplessness. Coming out of the whole mess wouldn't be easy. Memories of Anthonio filled Isabella's mind. She wondered where he was and what he was doing, and if he was safe.
Isabella slept off.
“Mom! Dad, please save them, help my mom and dad, the fire, please save them.”
She rolled on the bed slowly and she felt Carlos’ arms around her. She didn't know how long she had slept.
“You will be fine,” he whispered.
Tears dropped freely from her eyes. Isabella melted in Carlos' embrace like a child finding comfort in her mother's arms.
Adrain's apartment
Adrian flung the door open.
“What the hell are you doing in this closet?”
Adrain’s voice was sharp and frightening.
Sofia’s body jolted, she turned quickly clutching the photos to her chest. She went through the pictures on his desk before he walked in. It was her first time in that room.
She thought he wouldn't return because it was past 5 in the morning.
“How did you get the keys to this room?”
He demanded, his eyes burning with rage.
“That shouldn't be the question now. The question should be why are you destroying innocent lives? Don't you have a conscience?" Sofia said, her voice trembling but brave.
He stepped forward. “She is not scared to talk back to me!”
Without warning, Adrain’s hand cracked against her face. Immediately she was on the floor. He kicked her again and again, and smashed her head against the wall. Sofia cried out before losing consciousness.
When she awoke, blood trickled from her lips.
“I will send you to the place I sent those people who do not mind their business and nobody will know where you are.”
He hissed, dragging her by the arm.
“You bastard,” Sofia lamented, her voice hoarse.
“I curse the day I set my eyes on you”
Adrian picked up the scattered pictures on the floor and fixed them back in the folder. He grabbed her phone from her hand, dragged her out of the room and locked the door.
“Mind your damn business,” he said and stormed upstairs to his room.
Sofia struggled to get up, she knew he would delete every picture, every evidence from that phone. All her evidence of the people he had killed and sold into s*x trafficking would be gone and this bastard will keep dictating her life.
She got up with her swollen face, tended to the bleeding, applied ointment and took some painkillers.
Sofia knew it was time to visit Capas, to see her parents, but Adrian never allowed her to go without his bodyguard.
Back at the hotel room, Carlos turned to Isabella, his voice was soft and thoughtful.
“Do you want to spend more time with me?”
“No, I just had a nightmare, I will be okay.”
He looked at her for a moment.
“The last call you made, it troubled you?” he asked.
“You knew I got a call?”
“Yes I did, but I didn't eavesdrop.”
“Okay.”
“Do you want to quit?” he asked.
“Quit what exactly?” Isabella asked feigning ignorance.
He smiled faintly.
“I can employ you, give you something different.”
She laughed.
“Why would a cop even contract a prostitute? You could be penalized for that. It's against the law, or are you investigating my boss?
“I only visit Malate for relaxation and work, I don't stay here.”
“Okay, but that doesn't answer my question,” Isabella said, meeting his gaze.
“Are you trying to get me to arrest my boss?
“If that was my mission, don't you think it would have been easier to just arrest him?”
“So what do you want? You won't sleep with me, yet you still pay generously.
He turned to her fully and said softly.
“Bella, if or whenever you need my help, do not hesitate to tell me.”
His words wrapped around Isabella like a warm blanket. It was so sweet, tender and genuine.
No one had ever shown her this level of concern. She wished it could continue for a long time.
“Hey man, your dad called me earlier, He was asking about you,” Ryan said the moment Calos picked the call.
Carlos leaned back in his chair, curious.
“What did you say to him?”
“I told him I hadn't seen you lately but we would probably catch up before I leave for Quezon city.”
Carlos paused, waiting.
“Was that all?”
“Yea, that was all. Ryan replied casually.
“But man, I gotta say, your old man still sounds as protective as ever, like you are seventeen or something.”
Carlos signed, “Do not tell him about Bella, not a word.”
“No way,” Ryan said with a light laugh.
“I wasn't planning to, but she's really beautiful. Now I understand why you are so drawn to her,” he chuckled.
Carlos didn't tell Ryan about what Isabella really does for a living, he could be loose- lipped when he wants to be. Carlos was also being careful giving some information because of the investigation he was working on.
“I have this feeling that I have seen her somewhere but I really can't place where exactly," Ryan continued.
Carlos knew Ryan must have seen Isabella in an event, party or somewhere she went with a client.
"She could possibly look like someone you have seen."
- Writer
